North to ALASKA

Wedding week starts today!  We leave for California (driving of course we estimate about 22 hours) in a few hours so I of course can't sleep so I decided to catch you up on our trip to Alaska.  We took a 7 day Disney Cruise through the inside passage.  The weather was pretty good for us.  Don't get me wrong it was cold  (they have icebergs in their ocean for heavens sake!) but we never had rain and we even had sunshine.   I decided it was best just to tell it by pictures.

When we arrived in Vancouver my resourceful brother found out that a limo was cheaper than 2 taxis - so our trip started out in a limo. (I think he is just use to SO CAL and all those celebrities and he secretly wishes he WAS mickey mouse!)

We stayed at this great hotel right where the Disney boat docks. 

Cutest Grandparents on the ship!

First order of Business on the ship is to PARTY.  So David Got called up to represent the rest of us!  we were so proud!

Some of the group - behind them is actually a bridge we just went under leaving Vancouver.

These were our professional videographers we took along!

Grace trying out the Mickey Slide

Although it was cold outside the pool was a warm 88 degrees and one of the perks of an Alaskan cruise ...... No one goes swimming! So we always had plenty of room in the pools!  We're not afraid of a little cold weather! HA

I found this handsome devil on the ship!

The scenery was beautiful.

The lovebirds - just always kissing!  hahaha Lauren had to force David to take a kissing picture! 

One of the perks of a Disney Cruise is you get to have Breakfast with the Big guy!

Haley and Grace just hanging out

Glacier day was COLD!  But we got so close and the scenery was incredible!

Yes those are iceburgs just floating in the ocean

Grandma keeping everyone warm on Glacier day!

Grandpa LOVED this cruise

The color didn't turn out well on this photo but the water is light GREEN and yes that is how big the iceburgs are that is a BIG boat next to it.

The glacier was unbelievable.  Photos do not do it justice.  But that is a HUGE boat next to it.  And yes we did see part of the glacier break off and fall into the ocean and cause a HUGE wave for that boat.

In Skagway the 4 of us took a helicopter tour and saw some glaciers up close.  I was a little nervous because the wind was really blowing that day and I have been in Steve's little plane in wind and it is quite bumpy but we didn't feel anything in the Helicopter.

Taking off

Later that day we took the kids on a 7 mile hike - wasn't our intention but we ended up really enjoying the Alaska wild that day! HA

Derek of course fell in the water right before this - that is what all the cheering is about!

Hiking is NOT Savannah's Favorite.  Quote "What happened to doing fun stuff for our shore excursions." hahaha

Good thing the next day in Juneau we only did fun stuff for her birthday!  We walked right by this Nissan. Some of you may not know but Savannah was born in a SUV just like this.  What a crazy thing to find it on her birthday.  So we of course had to take a picture.

In Juneau we also went panning for Gold.  Derek was more interested in throwing boulders into the river.  But the good news is I did get his gold!

Steve finding me some Gold! 

If you squint you can see it!

There is so much you have to use an eye dropper to get it! HA

I was a natural!

Here is Grandpa Celebrating Savannahs Birthday! 15 years old - where does the time go!

Lots of Singing and cheering for SAV P

Ketchikan was our last stop

zy

We watched a logger show of course we knew my dad could have done all that stuff and probably better! 

Me and my cute Dad

Derek and Diana.  I made him continually tell me who his favorite sibling was the entire trip.  You'll never guess the answer.  ME - because I was the only who went to the FROZEN NORTH.  ha No actually we couldn't have had better weather and don't tell him but I really had fun!

Oh don't be deceived by their angelic faces -These two are a hoot!  They just love each other and cause so much trouble!  Actually I think  the one in the white shirt is the team leader!

Someone always has to put on a show!  This time it was Lauren while we were all waiting for a Movie to start!

This is one of our Waiters - Rodrigo who put up with all the chanting and cheering and brought 1 million smoothies to our table every night!

Well he had to know it was coming........ You don't take your sister on an ALASKAN cruise for your 50th birthday and not have a surprise celebration!  We all wore black and commemorated the death of his Youth!

The whole crew!  The kids gave you're so old toasts - some of my favorites were  "You're so old when you were young rainbows were black and white!"  or  "You're so old your birth certificate says EXPIRED" .   We went around the table a few times and everyone got to toast uncle Derek!  It was GREAT fun!  My siblings all sent toasts also- so through out the dinner I would read one of theirs!  It was a great way to celebrate such a great big brother!

We of course had to sneak in a few days at the lake before we leave for the wedding.  Here is Savannah getting some air. 

Derek had never been so proud of his sisters - they were just catching air right and left! Here is Lauren bringing a tear to her brothers eye.

Of course he couldn't be shown up!

And no lake trip would be complete with out some tubing!

or hanging out watching stupid You-tubes like the new favorite  BABY MONKEY